Basic Income Payments Spent on Paying Debt in Arlington, Survey Says [Video]

Participants of a guaranteed income program in a city outside Washington, DC, said they obtained better-paying jobs and paid off debts — though many went into more debt paying for housing.

Arlington’s Guarantee, launched in September 2021, is a guaranteed income pilot that gave 200 randomly selected low-income working families in Arlington, Virginia, $500 a month with no strings attached for 18 months. The Arlington Community Foundation and Arlington County Department of Human Services launched the program.

In a new report, participants reported using funds to set long-term financial goals, pay off debt, save money for their kids’ education, pursue their own education, and cover basic needs such as food and transportation. The payments were privately funded and totaled $1.8 million directly to recipients.

At the start of 2024, there are nearly 150 guaranteed income pilot programs nationwide, testing out varying degreesof payments, length, and participant qualifications. Some programs released results saying participants mostly spent …